Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-10
The Ramie s.lamt.

The HERALD few days ago contained
an article on the subject of ramie cul-
ture. The brilliant namesake of this
journal. the Phoenix Daily Herald, has
an article on the same subject as follows:
"Readers of the Herald will remember
the introduction OF the ramie plant into
the United States dozen or more years
ago, and the furore it created and the
consequent disappointment when it was
found that there was no known process
by which it could be successfully pre-
pared for the market. The botanical
name of this plant is Boehmeria Tena
cissima or in English the gigantic, sting
less nettle. Those familiar with the
stinging nettle can form an idea of the
great growth of ramie which once well
rooted attains height of six to eight
feet and the third year will cover the
whole field as thick as it can stand. At
three years old it will produce three cut
tings the plant being perennial-coming
from the root each season.
The Western Fibre Company, a San
Francisco corporation, has secured the
patent fer decorticating, !. e.: cleaning
the fibre of its gum and other objection
able elements and preparing it for mar
ket. This they will do for the grower or
purchase the dry stalks in bulk and
clean and market it on their own ac
count. The present price of marketa Bile
fibre is five cents per pound, and it is
claimed that after the first year froro
planting $500 pounds per acre for two
cuttings and 5000 pounds for three cut
tings can be made. This is at the rate
OF S275 and S400 per acre respectively.
1t is said that the cost for decorticat.
ing is not likely to exceed SIS per acre.
This will leave probable return to the
grower Of 5000 and 1925 per acre re-
spectivsly. Should the cost be 500 or
$l25 per acre, even then the margin of
pr fiji is marvellous. The market for the
fibre is principally in England and Eu.
rope, but with its successful decortica.
tion and abundant supply manufactures
will spring up all over the United States
and notably on the Pacific coast, which
is better adapted to lis culture than at
any point in the Atlantic States. There
is no danger OF the market being over
done, for its universal adaptability will
cause it to supplant hemp, flax, sisal,
and in fact all tibres that are now used.
Its fineness and strength is such that
for the heaviest and strongest cable it
outranks verything other than iron or
steel. and for the finest floss or thread it
is equal to silk. For oil textile fabrics
it has no super or and but one possible
equal, and that is silk. 1t will be seen
by this that, as before said, there is no
danger Of overstooking the market.
1t delights in a rich, moist, alluvial
soil, but will grow well on any soil
adapted to wheat or other grain pro.
vided abundant moisture is supplied it.
We know of no spot better adapted to
this plant than the irrigable lands ol
the Salt and Gila rivers where oil the
above conditions exist. If there is nc
mistake about this new process doins
its work effectively, it would seen
that Providence has specially smiled
upon this country in withholding thi
boon until our Territory was fully
ready to take it among the many
other good things we have and thu
make the most of the limited area o
arabic lands within her borders to en-
rich her people. So deeply impresse,
with this subject have several people be
come that plants for experiment hav
been sent for to test its merits nea
Phoenix. If one.half claimed for it b.
true it is greater boon for the masses o
the people than would be new gold field
or silver mines. The Herald will wstc
the progress of it's culture in Californi
and the success of its decortication wit
deep interest, hoping and believing tina
something vastly important will resul
in this new movement"